Value dispensing mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A postage meter having a mechanism which is rotatable to print a postage impression of a selected value. A mechanism for setting the postage value is provided, and is assembled with the printing mechanism for rotation therewith. This setting mechanism includes selector wheels which are coaxially rotatable, and setting bars which are longitudinally translatable in response to rotation of the selector wheels. Economic accountability is assured by postage registers having four drivable decimal orders, and input pinions for each such order. The setting mechanism has four adjustable register-driving gear clusters which are normally disengaged from the register pinions, but engage them during printing. Mechanisms are provided for choking the register, and for clamping the choke devices to provide positive register locking when the driving gear clusters are disengaged from the pinions. The setting bars comprise an assembly of individual bar members, pairs of which are connected together for joint translation. The bars are nested in a unique way, and are formed with respective gear tooth racks which adjust the registerdriving gear clusters and set the numerical value of the postage printing wheels. Rectification is accomplished by pawls which engage the setting bar racks, and have a mutually interlocking relationship with a shutter disk. This interlock operates either to disable the meter trip mechanism, and thus prevent postage printing operation, when the setting bars are not in rectified position; or to lock the setting bars during a postage printing cycle. A deadlock latch, which acts as an intermediate link between the shutter disk and trip mechanism, also blocks the trip mechanism when the descending postage balance is low, or the register compartment access door is open.

nited States Patent [191 Hanson 51 May 1,1973

[54] VALUE DISPENSING MECHANISMS [75] Inventor: Walter J. Hanson,owdiriwiii,

Conn.

[73] Assignee: Pitney-Bowe s,

Conn.

[22] Filed: NOV. 23, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 91,800

Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-William D. Soltow, Jr.,Martin D. Wittstein, Albert W. Scribner and Louis A. Tirelli f 57ABSTRACT A postage meter having a mechanism which is rotatable to printa postage impression of a selected value. A mechanism for setting thepostage value is provided, and is assembled with the printing mechanismfor rotation therewith. This setting mechanism includes selector wheelswhich are coaxially rotatable, and

rm, seam,

setting bars which are longitudinally translatable in response torotation of the selector wheels. Economic accountability is assured bypostage registers having four drivable decimal orders, and input pinionsfor each such order. The setting mechanism has four adjustableregister-driving gear clusters which are normally disengaged from theregister pinions, but engage them during printing. Mechanisms areprovided for choking the register, and for clamping the choke devices toprovide positive register locking when the driving gear clusters aredisengaged from the pinions. The setting bars comprise an assembly ofindividual bar members, pairs of which are connected together for jointtranslation. The bars are nested in a unique way, and are formed withrespective gear tooth racks which adjust the register-driving gearclusters and set the numerical value of the postage printing wheels.Rectification is accomplished by pawls which engage the setting barracks, and have a mutually interlocking relationship with a shutterdisk. This interlock operates either to disable the meter tripmechanism, and thus prevent postage printing operation, when the settingbars are not in rectified position; or to lock the setting bars during apostage printing cycle. A deadlock latch, which acts as an intermediatelink between the shutter disk and trip mechanism, also blocks the tripmechanism when the descending postage balance is low, or the registercompartment access door is open.

30 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures Patented May 1, 1 973 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 3Cm -m Patented May 1, 1973 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 1, 1973 14Sheets-Sheet :6

Patented May 1, 1973 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 1, 1973 14Sheets-Sheet 5 I Patented May 1, 1973 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 vPatente d May1, 1973 I 3,731,068

14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented May 1, 1973 3,731,068

14 Sheets-Sheet 9- Pate'nfed May 1, 1973 I 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 PatentedMay 1, 1973 14 Sheets-Sheet l1.

Patented May 1 1973 3,731,068

14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Patented May 1, 1973 l4 Sheets-Sheet 15 mm. muE

Patented May 1, 1973 14. Sheets-Sheet 14 VALUE DISPENSING MECHANISMSFIELD OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to value dispensing THEPRIOR ART Dispensing mechanisms usually include some means fordispensing a tangible article or printing an impression of some value,and a trip mechanism for triggering a cycle of dispensation. Inaddition, for dispensing mechanisms such as postage meters, whichgenerally operate on a pre-paid rather than a coin-operated basis, theremust also be a mechanism of economic accountability, usually a numericalregister, to keep a cumulative record of value dispensed over manyoperating cycles. There must also be some means for selecting the valueto be dispensed in each operating cycle, andv setting means forguaranteeing that there will be a numerical input which depletes theregister by an amount corresponding to the value dispensed.

FIGS. 3 through 6 respectively are perspective views of, thepostage-setting mechanisms foreach of the four driveable numericalorders of the register of that meter.

FIGS. 7 and 8 comprise a series of sequential sectional viewsillustrating the operating progression of the register driving mechanismof that meter. These sections are both taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 9,looking in the direction of the arrows.

' FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the sub-assembly of FIG. 2. 4 FIG/10 is afront elevational view of the same sub-assembly, seen from the planeindicated by lines 10-10 the trip and lock-out mechanisms of thispostage meter in consecutive and/or alternative operating conditions.

In such a meter, it is quite a complicated task to I design a suitablemechanism which will effect the proper setting of the postage printingwheels and guarantee that a corresponding input will be made to theregister; and to design a trip mechanism which will insure that only asingle cycle of postage printing can take place for each register input,and that operation is impossible except under conditions of numericalrectification. Finally, it is essential that the security of theregister be guaranteed by suitable interlocks responsive to the registercompartment access door, and that the postage printing mechanism bedisabled when the register balance reaches a minimum numerical levelequal to themaximum amount of postage that can be dispensed in a singleoperating cycle. The latter feature guarantees that the amount ofpostage dispensed can never exceed the remaining credit.

Previous postage meter designs which achieved all these objectives havetended to be complicated and expensive, while those which were simplerand less expensive all had one or more shortcomings. In particular, thecluster gear" type of meter (described in detail below) is relativelyeconomical; but the previous examples of this design left considerableroom for addi tional design sophistication.

THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. '1 is a sideelevational view of a postage meter embodying this invention, with theprotective cover broken away for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sub-assembly comprising the postageprinting and setting mechanisms of that meter.

FIGS. 11D and 11E are views similar to FIGS. 11A through 11C, butlimited to the regiSter lock-out mechanism.

FIG. 12is an exploded perspective view, with parts broken away' forclarity of illustration, of the trip mechanism of FIGS. 1 1A through11C.

FIG. 13 is-a top plan view of the'register choking, v

clamping and antireverse 'mechanism of this postag meter.

FIG. 14 isa sectional view taken along the lines 14' 14 of FIG. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the same mechanismas FIG. 13.

FIGS. 15A through 15C are fragmentary top plan views, correlated withFIGS. 11A through llC respec- And FIG. 18 is a sectional view takenalonglines 18-8 of FIG. 16, looking in the direction of the ar- The samereference characters refer to the same elements throughout all the viewsof the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In General .F 1G. 1provides an overall view of a postage meter 30 embodying this invention.In general terms, it com prises a housing 31, a rotary. postage printingmechanism 32, and'a rotating impression roller 34 therebelow whichcooperates therewith to imprint postage upon an envelope E or otherpostage-receiving object. The envelope is inserted into a printing slot36 defined by the printing mechanism 32 above it and the impressionroller 34 below. The motion of the envelope E engages a trip finger 38which in turn operates a trip mechanism generally designated 40. Thefunction of this trip mechanism is to switch on the power to an electricmotor 42 having an output shaft 44 to which is affixed a cooling fan 46.When the power is switched on, the motor and shaft drive reductiongearing 48, an output shaft 50 and a drive gear 52 secured to the outputshaft. The gear 52 drivingly engages a gear 54 which is secured to acarriage 144 supporting the postage printing mechanism 32 and a settingmechanism 60. The latter mechanism includes manual postage selectionmeans 58 mounted at the front end of the carriage, and a plurality ofregister-driving gear clusters 62 mounted on the rear end of thecarriage. The carriage 144 is mounted for rotation in response to gear54 and about an axis 56, by means of a rear shaft 64 journaled upon arear frame plate 66, and a forward shaft 68 journaled by means of aflanged bushing 69 upon a front frame plate 70. Both frame plates 66 and70 are upstanding from a meter floor 67.

As is conventional in postage dispensing meters, the register 74contains a numerical record of the descending postage credit balance,and also the ascending cumulative total of postage dispensed over theentire life of the meter 30. The register comprises several numericalorders, which in the U.S. monetary system represent different decimalplaces, i.e., the register contains numerical display wheels 76.1through 76.7 representing, for example, tenths of cents throughthousands of dollars respectively. Through conventional Geneva gearing,each of these numerical orders is connected to. those above it fordecimal carries.

The rotation of carriage 144 about axis 56 drives printing mechanism 32through its postage printing cycle. Such carriage rotation, which startsfrom the position of FIG. 7 and proceeds as indicated in FIG. 8 (seearrow 78), also causes the register driving gear clusters 62 to engageregister input pinions 72 and thus alter the contents of numericalregister 74. For example, a selected one of several gear segments 94 ofcluster 62.1 moves into driving engagement with the input pinion 72.1 ofthe first register order 74.1, as seen in FIG. 8. That pinion 72.1,which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 87, drives another pinion 73.1which turns on a stub shaft 85 and is integral with a gear 75.1. Thelatter meshes with a pair of gears 77.1 and 79.1 which are rotatable onshafts 81 And 83 respectively, and which.

drive the ascending and descending portions of register 74 respectively.The stub shaft 85 is affixed to one of the register frame plate 317 (seeFIG. 13). In a similar manner, the other cluster gears 62.2 through 62.4drive the other driveable register orders 74.2 through 74.4 by means oftheir respective input pinions 72.2 through 72.4.

The Setting Mechanism The cluster gear type of register drivingmechanism, which is simpler and more economical than various otherapproaches, is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,306,499 of F. J. Rouan. In thatdesign, and in the present one, the

postage printing mechanism 32 is operable upon rota- .tion about ahorizontal axis; and the setting mechanism 60 is rotatable therewith andincludes the cluster gears v 62 which engage the register input pinions72 during that rotation, to accomplish the register input function. Itfollowsthat the register driving clusters 62 are engaged with theregister pinions 72 only during a portion of the postage dispensingcycle. At all other times the register 74 is disengaged therefrom, andin the prior art Rouan meter this left the register in a floating,insecure condition.

As in the prior art, each cluster 62 of the present meter comprises aplurality of the gear segments 94, each having different numbers ofteeth, and the value of the register input is selected, to correspond tothe amount of postage dispensed, by rotating these clusters segments 94to the register pinions 72. In the cited Rouan patent, however, thesettingmechanism responsible for rotating these clusters consisted of adirect gear sector and pinion connecting manual selector levers to theclusters. The geometry of that arrangement was such that only twonumerical orders of the register could be set from manual selectormembers placed in side-by-side relationship. Since it is a highlydesirable operator convenience feature to have the selector members forall decimal orders in sid'e-by-side relationship, the prior artmechanism was effectively limited to two settable orders; and, as aresult the postage meter could dispense no more than $0.99 per postageimpression.

Another problem with the prior art meter just described is that itcontained no provision for rectifying the setting mechanism; i.e.,setting it precisely-at some quantized numerical level corresponding toan allowed amount of postage, and not allowing it to slip into someindeterminate or intermediate position between allowed postage levels.

In a U.S. patent application co-pendingwith this one, (Ser. No. 9l,680,filed Nov. 23, 1970, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 3,682,378) inventionsare disclosed and claimed which represent improvements in severalrespects over the meter disclosed in the cited Rouan patent. One suchfeature of that application is the broad concept of using a translatablebar mechanism for connecting a set of coaxially rotatable postageselectors 80 to rotate the register driving clusters 62, thus selectingthe appropriate gear segment 94 to correspond with the amount ofpostage.

The present application discloses the same postage meter mechanism asthe co-pending application just mentioned, but claims different aspectsof that mechanism. So far as the translatable bar type of settingmechanisms is concerned, for example, the

present invention carries that approach significantly further, bydesigning each translatable bar 98 as an assembly of at least twoseparate bar members 100 and 102 connected together for jointtranslation, thus simplifying the manufacturing problems. In addition,separate rack means 104, and 126 are formed on the .various bar membersfor engagement with pinions 128, 112 and 90 of the cluster gears 62,postage printing wheels 96 and manual postage selector wheels 80respectively. 7

For a full appreciation of these aspects 0F the invention, the readersattention is directed first to FIG. 2, which provides a detailed view ofthe printing and setting mechanisms mounted on therotatable carriage144. (The direction of carriage rotation is indicated by arrow 78 inFIG. 2). To select the desired amount of postage, the setting mechanism60 comprises selection mechanism 58 which is partially enclosed in ahousing 89 and includes notched finger disks 80.1 through 80.4 to whichare secured postage read-out number wheels 82.1 through 82.4respectively. Each finger disk 80 and its associated number wheel 82 areintegrally molded of a plastic material, and rotatably mounted upon ahorizontal selection mechanism shaft 84 journaled between the two armsof a U-shaped bracket 86 (see also FIG. 9) on the carriage 144. Eachfinger disk and number wheel assembly 80, 82 has integrally moldedtherewith a respective one of the selector pinions 90.1 through 90.4,which drive the setting mechanism 60, causing it to perform two relatedfunctions. The first of these functions is to set the type wheels 95 ofprinting mechanism 32 into position to print the selected amount ofpostage; and the second is to adjust the displacements which theregister driving gear clusters 62 impart to their respective registerinput pinions 72.

Each of these register driving gear clusters 62 comprises a hub 92 onwhich are formed nine different angularly spaced gear segments 94.1through 94.9 containing one through nine gear teeth respectively, andcorresponding to the numerical values one through nine which theselection mechanism 58 can assign to each of four decimal orders. Inaddition, there is a space 94.0 between each pair of gear segments 94.1and 94.9, which corresponds to the assignment of zero value to aparticular decimal order.

The hubs 92 are mounted for rotation about vertical shafts 96 inresponse to the setting mechanism 60. Such rotation determines which ofthe gear segments 94.1 through 94.9, or the space 94.0, is presented tothe associated register input pinion 72. When the space 94.0 is thusselected, there is a zero input to the associated register order; andwhen one of the segments 94.1 through 94.9 with progressively increasingnumbers of gear teeth is selected, the input to the associated registerorder corresponds to selection of postage levels one through ninerespectively.

The first four decimal orders 76.1 through 76.4 of register 74 are theones which are driveable by respective gear clusters 62; the remainingregister orders 76.5 through 76.7 changing only in response toconventional Geneva gearing (not shown) upon receiving decimal carriesfrom lower orders. As a result, the postage level may be manually set infour separate decimal orders, employing the selector members 80.1through 80.4, and the meter 30 is able to print four decimal orders ofpostage, for which the printing mechanism 32 comprises four decimalorder print wheels 95.1 through 95.4 respectively.

The setting mechanism 60 comprises a connecting linkage including fourbar assemblies 98.1 through 98.4 which are responsive to the fourselector pinions-90.1 through 90.4 respectively. In FIGS. 3 through 6 itis seen that these bar assemblies comprise rather complicated shapeswhich are simplified for manufacturing purposes by dividing them intorespective front and rear bar members 100 and 102, and using respectivefastening screws 124 to unite each pair of bars for translation as aunit.

The front bars 100.1 through 100.4 respond to the selector pinions 90and set the type wheels 95 of postage printing mechanism 32. They areformed with respective toothed racks 104.1 through 104.4 which engagethe selector pinions 90.1 through 90.4 respectively. In addition, thefront bars are formed with print wheel drive branches 106.1 through106.4 respectively bent at an angle thereto. Branch 106.4 slantssomewhat upwardly from bar 100.4, while the other branches 106.1 through106.3 extend sidewardly from bars 104.1 through 104.3 respectively atangles of about 90, and have extensions which are slanted slightlyupwardly.

The slanted branch 106.4 and each of the slanted extensions of branches106.1 through 106.3 extend into interleaved relationship (see FIG. 10)with the four decimal order postage printing wheels 95.1 through 95.4,and broaden out to form toothed racks 110.1 through 110.4 respectively.The racks 110 drive pinions 112.1 through 112.4 respectively, each of lwhich is formed integrally with an associated one of the postageprinting wheels 95.1 through 95.4 respectively; all the print wheels andtheir pinions being rotatably mounted upon a common shaft 114 (FIG. 10)which is non-rotatably affixed to a print mechanism housing 1 l6 tions:setting the gear clusterS 62; rectification of the setting mechanism andslidably mounting the bar assemblies 98 on the carriage 144.

So far as setting the gear clusters 62 is concerned, the bars 102.1through 102.4 are formed with toothed rack tabs 126.1 through 126.4respectively bent at right angles thereto, which engage pinions 128.1through 128.4 respectively, secured to gear cluster hubs 92.1 through92.4 respectively. When any one of the bar assemblies 98 islongitudinally translated, such motion causes the rack tab 126 thereofto rotate the associated pinion 128' and gear cluster 62 about its shaft96, thus selecting the angular position of the cluster. This in turnpresents a particular gear segment 94 of the cluster to its registerinput pinion 72, i.e., the segment with the number of register-drivingteeth which is appropriate to the particular postage level desired forthe particular decimal order.

Rectification The co-pending application mentioned above represented animprovement over the earlier Rouan .cluster gear patent in that meanswere provided for rectifying the setting mechanism. One result was thatthe print wheels were set precisely in various positions eachcorresponding to an allowed quantum of postage,

and were not allowed to assume intermediate, numerically indeterminatepositions. But even more importantly in a cluster gear type of meter, italso rectified the angular positions of the cluster gears; otherwise itwould have been possible for two consecutive gear segments of any onecluster to pass on opposite sides of their associated register inputpinion, without engaging that pinion at all. In that patent application,the rectifying mechanism claimed was one in which rectifying pawls wereresiliently biased into nested engagement with position-determiningteeth formed on any appropriate member of the setting mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention rectification is accomplishedspecifically by providing a special toothed rectifying rack 132 on eachof the translatable bar assemblies 98, and the resiliently biasedrectifying pawls (designated 134) act directly on those racks. Theadvantage of this approach is that the rectifying action takes placeclose to the register driving cluster gears 62, and thus reducesbacklash in the positioning of those gears.

The rear bar members 102.1 though 102.4 are formed with respective rightangle dog-leg bends 102a from which are folded respective right angleflanges 130.1 through 130.4. These bar flanges 130 have two functions,one of which .is rectification. They are formed with toothed rectifyingracks 132.1 through 132.4 respectively, which cooperate. with respectiverectifying pawls 134.1 through 134.4. One pair of oddnumbered pawls134.1 and 134.3 are in superposed relationship and are pivotally mountedon the upper surface of the carriage 144 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 16) by asingle fastener 136.1, and the other pair of even-numbered pawls 134.2and 134.4 are similarly superposed and mounted on the lower surface ofthe carriage by fastener 136.2. Each of these pawls 134 is formed with atooth 138 which nests between the teeth of the associated rectifyingrack 132 when the associated bar assembly 98 is in one of its rectifiedpositions, or rides over those teeth 132, rotating the associated pawl134 .about its fastener 136, when the associated bar assembly is betweenrectified positions.

The Rotating Carriage The co-pending patent application mentioned aboveclaims a carriage which is arranged to form an elongated cavity withinwhich register-driving cluster gears are rotatably mounted, and barmeans are mounted for translation whereby to rotate the cluster gears.The present invention carries that concept further, specificallyproviding a carriage 144 the rear of which comprises a pair of upper andlower confronting plates 146 and 148 respectively for rotatably mountingthe cluster gears 62 and slidably mounting the bar means 98, and thefront of which comprises the housing 89 in which the postage selectionmechanism 58 is rotatably supported on bracket 86. The space between theplates 146 and 148 constitutes a rear cavity 150 within which the barmeans 98 are housed, the interior of housing 89 constitutes a frontcavity 88 in which the selection mechanism 58 is contained, and the barmeans 98 extend longitudinally forward from rear cavity 150 into frontcavity 88 to engage the postage selection mechanism 58.

The carriage 144 also comprises a four-pronged forked frame member 152(FIGS. 1, A and 16) atv the forward end of the cavity 150, to which theupper and lower plates 146 and 148 are secured by fasteners 330; and adisk 154 (FIGS. 1, 2, l3 and 14) to which these plates are secured atthe rear of cavity 150, by means of tabs 156 and fasteners 157. Thecarriage members 146, 148, 152 and 154 thus form a strong rectangularframe to support the bars 98 and cluster gears 62 within rear cavity150.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 16, the front wall of the four-prongedmember 152 is formed with a circular passageway opening 152a surroundedby a hollow cylindrical shaft 68, which is integral with the front wallof member 152 and projects forwardly therefrom. A smaller diametersleeve 71 is secured to the rear wall ll6b of print mechanism housing116, and projects rearwardly therefrom into the interior of the hollow'shaft 68 to mount the housing 116 (and the print mechanism 32 therein)upon the pronged member 152.

Two hollow roll pins (cylindrical pins rolled from sheet stock) passthrough diametrically opposite radial openings 63 formed in the shaft-68and sleeve 71, to secure the shaft and sleeve together. These pins aresqueezed prior to insertion in the holes 63, and then expand for afriction fit therein. In addition, set screws 61 are threaded intotapped holes 59 which are formed on opposite sides of frame member 152and sleeve 71 at displacements from holes 63, thus forming a more rigidassembly. The U-shaped bracket 86, which supports the selectionmechanism 58, is secured by fasteners 332 to the front wall 116a ofhousing 116 (FIG. 9), and its two arms project forwardly therefrom. Theselector housing 89 is also mounted on the front wall of housing 116.The entire carriage 144 is mounted for rotation about axis 56 by meansof the shaft 64, which protrudes rearwardly from disk 154 and isjournalled on the rear frame plate 66, and hollow shaft 68 which isjoumaled within shouldered bushing 69. The bushing in turn is supportedupon the front frame plate 70. Opening 152a and the hollow interiors ofshaft 68, bushing 69, sleeve 71 and housing 116 define a continuousaxial passageway through which the bar assemblies 98 pass from the rearcavity to the front cavity 88.

Mounting of the Setting and Rectifying Mechanisms on the Carriage Thesecond function of thebar flanges 130 is to mount the bar assemblies 98slidably on the carriage 144. As best seen in FIG. 7, but with referenceto FIGS. 1 through 6 and 9 also, the underside of carriage plate 146 isformed with a wide, shallow channel 158 which is elongated in thedirection parallel to axiS 56, and slidably receives an upper pair ofodd-numbered bar flanges 130.1 and 130.3 in superposed relationship.These flanges are retained within the channel 158 by means of a rivet160 which is driven upwardly into the carriage plate 146 through a pairof slots 162.1 and 162.3 formed in both flanges 130.1 and 130.3respectively. The rivet has an enlarged flanges overlapping the edges ofthe slots 162, to prevent vertical escape of the flanges. Similarly, theupper surface of carriage plate 148 is formed with a wide, shallowchannel 164 which slidably receives a lower pair of even-numbered barflanges 130.2 and 130.4 in superposed relationship.

These flanges are also retained within the channel 164 by means ofanother headed rivet 166 which is driven downwardly through respectiveslots 162.2 and 162.4 thereof into the lower carriage plate 148. Theheads of rivets 160 and 166 are not tight against the bar flanges 130,so as to avoid binding their sliding movement;

' while the width of slots 162 is greater than the outside ment with theassociated register input pinion 72.

Pinions 128 are provided to rotate each gear cluster 62 in this manner,each pinion being located at one end of its associated shaft 96 and hub92, adjacent to one of the carriage plates 146 or 148, where it isconveniently engageable by the associated bar rack 126 for rotating thecluster gear in response to translation of the associated bar assembly98.

As best seen in FIG. 9, odd-numbered alternate cluster gears 62.1 and62.3 are located on one side of the carriage 144, and drive theirrespective register input pinions 72.1 and 72.3 during a first half ofthe carriagerotation (as illustrated for cluster gear 62.1 in FIGS. 7and 8). Even-numbered alternate cluster gears 62.2 and 62.4, on theother hand, are located on the 'opposite side of the carriage, and thusdrive their respective pinions 72.2 and 72.4 during the second half ofsuch rotation.

The carriage frame 152 serves many subsidiary functions. In order tokeep the rectifying pawls 134 resiliently biased into engagement withtheir associated rectifier rack teeth 132, a pair of leaf springs 168(FIGS. 1 and are secured on opposite sides of the frame member 152 bymachine screws 170. Each leaf spring is fork-shaped pain to form pairsof independently flexing tines 172.1, 172.3 (extending upwardly) and172.2, 172.4 (extending downwardly), which engage respective projections140.1 through 140.4 of respective rectifying pawls 134.1 through 134.4.Note that the upper and lower surfaces of frame member 152 receive'therectifying pawl fasteners 136.1 and 136.3, respectively; and the sidesurfaces thereof receive the leaf spring fasteners 170. In addition, theunique upper and lower pronged configuration of .member 152 allows theright angle dog-leg bends 102a of bar members 102.1 and 102.3 to reachupwardly through the upper bifurcation thereof, and those of the othertwo bar members 102.2 and 102.4 to reach downwardly through the lowerbifurcation; so that their flanges 130 engage respectively withrectifying pawls 134.1 and 134.3 atop the frame member 152, and 134.2and 134.4 below the frame member.

Interrelationship Among the Bar Assemblies The shape of each barassembly 98 is complicated by the requirement that it performflvefunctions simultaneously: driven engagement with one of the selectorpinions 90; driving engagement with one of the print wheel pinions 112;rectifying engagement with one of the pawls 134; driving engagement withone of the cluster pinions 128; and slidable mounting of the barassembly itself upon one of the rear carriage plates 146 or 148. Thedesign is further complicated by the fact that only the selector pinions90 and cluster pinions 128 are located with the carriage cavities 88 and150 respectively and are thereof adjacent to the path of translation ofthe main bar members 100 and 102 respectively; whereas the print wheelpinions 112 are displaced sidewardly therefrom, and the rectifying pawls134 are'loca ted above and below the carriage frame member 152. Theproblem of print wheel pinion engagement is solved by providing theforward bar members 100 with the sidewardly extending branches 106 whichbring the toothed racks 110 into proximity with print wheel pinions 112,while the problem of rectifying pawl engagement is solved by providingthe vertically extending right angle dog-leg bends 102a, as previouslydescribed. Despite their intricately branched shapes, however, the barassemblies 98 must be translatable independently of each other, withoutany interference between the various bends 102a and branches 106, inorder that the four register orders 74.1 through.74.4 be settableindependently. For the I same reason, moreover, the flanges 130 andracks 126 must avoid mutual interference while performing theirrespective functions of slidably mounting the bar assemblies 98 on thecarriage plates 146 and 148, and driving the luster pinions 128. Inorder to avoid such mutual interference, the various parts of the barassemblies 98.1 through 98.4 are folded, interleaved and slidably nestedwith each other in a unique way which is one of the novel features ofthis invention.

As seen in FIG. 9, the forward bar members 100.1 through 100.4 of eachassembly 98 are arranged in parallel, side-by-side (and thereforenon-interfering) relationship within the selector cavity 88. The twolower order bars 100.1 and 100.2 are positioned below, and the twohigher order bars 100.3 and 100.4 above, the axis of rotation of theshaft 84. Consequently, as seen in FIG. 10, the two lower order selectorracks 104.1 and 104.2 engage their respective pinions 90.1 and 90.2 frombelow, while the two higher order selector racks 104.3 and 104.4 engagetheir respective selection pinions 90.3 and 90.4 from above. As aresult, the bar assemblies 98.1 and 98.2 are driven rearwardly by theirrespective pinions 90.1 and 90.2, from the forward limiting positions ofthese bar assemblies illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 5 respectively.Similarly, the bar assemblies 98.3 and 98.4 are driven forwardly bytheir respective pinions 90.3 and 90.4, from the rearward limitingpositions of these bar assemblies illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 3respectively. To accommodate these differing directions of bar assemblymotion, slots 162.3 and 162.4 extend rearwardly from their respectiverivets 160 and 166, while slots 162.1 and 162.2 extend forwardlytherefrom. Note also that the direction of rotation of the respectivecluster gears 62 and print wheels depends on the direction oftranslation of their bar assemblies 98.

The described vertical displacement of bar members from each otherpermits their respective sidewardly extending, print-wheel-drivingbranches 106 to overlie one another within-the print wheel housing 1 16,to avoid mutual interference. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, thelowermost of these members is the lowest order branch 106.1; which isbent from the lower-edge of bar 100.1, one of the two lower bars 100(see also FIG. 6). The next one above is the second order branch 106.2,which achieves a spaced, overlying, non-interfering relationship tobranch 106.1 by being bent from the upper edge of the other lower bar100.2 (see also FIG. 5). The next one above that is the third orderbranch 106.3 which achieves a spaced overlying, noninterferingrelationship to branch 106.2 by being bent from the lower edge of thebar 100.3 (see also FIG. 4), one of those positioned above bars 100.1and 100.2. Finally, the fourth order branch 106.4 achieves a spaced,overlying, non-interfering relationship with branch 106.3 by being bentfrom the top edge of the other upper bar 100.4 (see also FIG. 3).

The rear bars 1021 through 102.4 are connected to their respective frontbars 100.1 through 100.4, extending rearwardly therefrom in relativelyclosely

1. In a numerical value dispensing device of the type having a numericalregister including driven means rotatable to change the numeRicalcontent of said register; and an assembly rotatable about a first axis;said rotatable assembly including means operable in response to suchrotation to dispense a numerical value, said dispensing means includingvariable numerical value output means; said rotatable assembly includingmeans for selecting and setting variable output value; said settingmeans including variable input driving means operable upon said rotationabout said first axis to rotate said driven means to alter the numericalcontent of said register by the amount of the selected numerical value,bar means extending substantially parallel to said first axis, meansmounting said bar means for translation substantially parallel to saidfirst axis, first means connecting said bar means for translation inresponse to said selecting means, and second means connected to saidvariable input driving means to alter said register input thereof inresponse to said bar translation; the improvement wherein: said barmeans comprises at least one bar assembly including at least twoseparate bar members and means connecting said bar members for jointtranslation.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein: said bar assemblycomprises first, second and third toothed rack means; said firstconnecting means comprises first pinion means rotatable in response tosaid selecting means and engaging said first rack means to translatesaid bar means; said second connecting means comprise second pinionmeans engaging said second rack means and responsive to said bar meanstranslation to vary said register driving means input; and said devicefurther comprises third pinion means engaging said third rack means andresponsive to said bar means translation to adjust said variable valueoutput means to vary the numerical value dispensed; two of said rackmeans being formed on one of said bar members, and one of said rackmeans being formed on the other of said bar members.
 3. In a numericalvalue dispensing device of the type having: a numerical registerincluding driven means rotatable to change the numerical content of saidregister; an assembly rotatable about a first axis and including meansoperable in responSe to such rotation to dispense a numerical value,said dispensing means including variable value output means; saidrotatable assembly further including means for selecting and settingsaid variable output value: said setting means including variable inputregister driving means operable upon said rotation about said first axisto rotate said driven means to alter the numerical content of saidregister by the amount of the numerical value selected, and bar meansextending substantially parallel to said first axial direction, said barmeans being translatable in said first axial direction and connected forsuch translation thereof to vary the input to said register by saiddriving means; the improvement wherein said assembly comprises: a pairof elongated plates; frame means mounting said plates in spacedconfronting relation to define an elongated bar cavity therebetween, thelongitudinal axis of which extends generally parallel to said firstaxis; and means on said plates mounting said bar means within saidcavity for translation longitudinally thereof.
 4. A device as in claim 3wherein: said frame means comprises a hollow frame member defining oneend of said bar cavity and formed with a central passageway; saidcarriage further comprises means secured to said frame member andarranged to define a number wheel cavity which is axially aligned withsaid bar cavity and said frame member passageway; said selecting meanscomprises number wheel shaft means extending transversely through saidnumber wheel cavity, number wheels rotatably mounted on said shaft meansin said number wheel cavity, and first pinions rotatable in response tosaid number wheels; and said bar means extend from said bar cavitythrough said frame member passageway into said number wheel cAvity andare formed with rack means engaging said first pinions.
 5. In anumerical value dispensing device of the type having a numericalregister including register driven means rotatable to change thenumerical content of said register, an assembly rotatable about a firstaxis and including means operable in response to such rotation todispense a selected numerical value and means for setting the numericalvalue to be dispensed, said setting means including variable inputdriving means operable in response to said rotation about said firstaxis to rotate said driven means of said register to change thenumerical content thereof in accordance with the value with the barmeans extending substantially parallel to said first axis, meansmounting said bar means for translation substantially parallel to saidfirst axis, and means connected to said register driving means to alterthe variable input thereof in response to said bar means translation;the improvement comprising: means for detenting said bar means in atleast one predetermined position whereby to rectify said variable inputat least at one amount level.
 6. A device as in claim 5 wherein saiddetenting means is yieldable to permit translation of said bar means;said device further comprising means detenting to operation of saiddispensing means for locking said detenting means in detenting positionwhereby to retain said bar means in said predetermined position duringsaid value dispensing operation.
 7. A device as in claim 5 wherein: saidbar means has position-defining teeth thereon, and said detenting meanscompriSes pawl means and spring means causing said pawl means to nestbetween said teeth when said bar means Is in at least one predeterminedposition, and means pivotally mounting said pawl means whereby to rotateout of said nested position when axial translation of said bar meanscauses one of said teeth to engage said pawl means.
 8. A device as inclaim 7 further comprising means arranged to lock said pawl means innested position in response to said value-dispensing operation. 9.Apparatus as defined by claim 5 additionally comprising drive meansadapted to rotate said assembly; and means controlled by said bardetenting means for enabling operation of said drive means. 10.Apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said assembly includes a hollowshaft which surrounds and provides a pivot means for the rotationalmovement of said bar means.
 11. In a numerical value dispensing deviceof the type having a numerical register including driven means rotatableto change the numerical content of said register, an assembly rotatableabout a first axis and including means operable in response to suchrotation to dispense a selected numerical value and means for settingthe numerical value to be dispensed thereby, said setting includingmeans operable for selecting the numerical value to be dispensed andvariable input driving means operable upon said rotation about saidfirst axis to rotate said driven means to change the numerical contentof said register by the amount of the numerical value selected, barmeans extending substantially parallel to said first axis, meansmounting said bar means for translation substantially parallel to saidfirst axis, and means connecting said register driving means to altersaid variable register input thereof in response to said bartranslation; the improvement comprising: means for sensing the positionof said bar means; and means responsive to said sensing means to locksaid value dispensing means when said bar means is between predeterminedpositions.
 12. A device as in claim 11 wherein: said bar means hasposition-revealing teeth thereon; and said position-sensing meanscomprises pawl means arranged to nest between said position-revealingteeth when said bar means is in at least one of said predeterminedpositions, and means pivotally mounting said pawl means whereby torotate out of said nested position when axial translatiOn of said barmeans out of said predetermined position causes one of saidposition-revealing teeth to engage said pawl means; said locking meansbeing arranged to lock said value dispensing means in response to saidunnested position of said pawl means.
 13. Apparatus as defined by claim9 wherein said bar means includes a composite member having three racksformed thereon.
 14. In a value dispensing device of the type havingvariable numerical value dispensing means; and a value setting assemblyincluding selector means and bar means which are longitudinallytranslatable in response to said selector means and which have a toothedrack thereon; the improvement comprising: pawl means arranged to nestbetween said rack teeth when said bar means is in at least onepredetermined position; means pivotally mounting said pawl means wherebyto rotate into and out of nested engagement with said teeth; meansincluding a lockable and releasable trip mechanism operative to drivesaid value dispensing means when said trip mechanism is released;shutter means movable to release said trip mechanism and engaging withsaid pawl means in a manner to prevent such movement of said shuttermeans when said pawl is out of said nested engagement, and to preventmovement of said pawl means out of said nested engagement when saidshutter means moves to release said trip mechanism; said shutter meansbeing formed with a pawl-receiving opening aligned with said pawl means,said pawl means, when not nested between said teeth, projecting intosaid pawl-receiving opening in position to engage said shutter meansupon trip-mechanism-releasing movement thereof; said shutter means alsobeing arranged so that said trip-mechanism-releasing movement thereofmoves said pawl-receiving opening out of engageable alignment with saidpawl means and interposes the body of said shutter means to blockrotation of said pawl means; said pawl means being arranged so that,when the body of said shutter means is so interposed, said pawl means islocked in nested engagement with said teeth whereby to prevent themovement of said bar means which is required to operate said settingmeans, whereby a change of value setting cannot be accomplished duringoperation of said dispensing means; said shutter means having a lockingsurface; deadlock means pivotable between positions for engaging withand disengaging from said shutter locking surface, said deadlock meanswhen in said engaging position blocking said movement of said shuttermeans whereby to prevent operation of said value dispensing means; saidtrip mechanism including sensing means which moves toward said deadlockmeans during operation of said trip mechanism, said sensing means motionbeing effective, if said deadlock means is not blocked, to drive saiddeadlock means from said shutter-engaging to said disengaging positionthereof, whereby to release said shutter means and allow said tripmechanism to operate said value dispensing means; a numerical valueregister; means for cumulatively altering the contents of said registerto reflect numerical value dispensed by said dispensing means; means forsensing when said register attains a predetermined numerical level; andblocking means responsive to said register level sensing means forblocking movement of said deadlock means from its shutter-engagingposition whereby to prevent movement of said shutter means and therebyprohibit release of said trip mechanism and operation of said valuedispensing means when said register attains said predetermined level.15. A device as in claim 14 further comprising: a compartment enclosingsaid register; a door for access to said register compartment; saidblocking means being responsive also to opening of said registercompartment door to block said deadlock means in its engaging positionwhereby to prevent movement of said shutter means and thereby prohibitrelease of said trip mechanism and operation of said value diSpensingmeans when either said register compartment door is open or saidregister attains said predetermined level.
 16. A device as in claim 15wherein said blocking means is arranged for movement from said deadlockmeans unblocking position to either of two deadlock means blockingpositions, said device comprising first means for moving said blockingmeans to a first one of said blocking positions in response to saidregister level sensing means when said register reaches saidpredetermined numerical level, and second means for moving said blockingmember to a second one of said blocking positions in response to openingof said register compartment door.
 17. In a value dispensing device ofthe type having variable numerical value dispensing means, and a valuesetting assembly including selector means and bar means which arelongitudinally translatable in response to said selector means and whichhave a toothed rack thereon; the improvement comprising pawl meansarranged to nest between said rack teeth when said bar means is in atleast one predetermined position; means pivotally mounting said pawlmeans whereby to rotate into and out of nested engagement with saidteeth; means including a lockable and releasable trip mechanismoperative to drive said value dispensing means when said trip mechanismis released; shutter means movable to release said trip mechanism andengaging with said pawl means in a manner to prevent such movement ofsaid shutter means when said pawl is out of said nested engagement, andto prevent movement of said pawl means out of said nested engagementwhen said shutter means moves to release said trip mechanism; and saidshutter means being formed with a pawl-receiving opening aligned withsaid pawl means; said pawl means, when not nested between said teeth,projecting into said pawl-receiving opening in position to engage saidshutter means upon trip-mechanism-releasing movement thereof, saidshutter means also being arranged so that said trip-mechanism-releasingmovement thereof moves said pawl-receiving opening out of engageablealignment with said pawl means and interposes the body of said shuttermeans to block rotation of said pawl means; said pawl means beingarranged so that, when the body of said shutter means is so interposed,said pawl means is locked in nested engagement with said teeth wherebyto prevent the movement of said bar means which is required to operatesaid setting means, whereby a charge of value setting cannot beaccomplished during operation of said dispensing means; said shuttermeans having a locking surface; deadlock means pivotable betweenpositions for engaging with and disengaging from said shutter lockingsurface, said deadlock means when in said engaging position blockingsaid movement of said shutter means whereby to prevent operation of saidvalue dispensing means; said trip mechanism including a sensing meanswhich moves toward said deadlock means during operation of said tripmechanism, said sensing means motion being effective, if said deadlockmeans is not blocked, to drive said deadlock means from saidshutter-engaging to said disengaging position thereof, whereby torelease said shutter means and allow said trip mechanism to operate saidvalue dispensing means.
 18. In a value dispensing device of the typehaving value dispensing means, means including a motor for driving saidvalue dispensing means through an operating cycle, a switch for startingand stopping said motor, a trip mechanism for closing said switch tostart a value dispensing cycle and re-opening said switch at theconclusion of said cycle, and secured means for setting and registeringthe numerical value to be dispensed; the improvement comprising: meansresponsive to said secured means for blocking operation of said tripmechanism; said trip mechanism including an operating control and tripmeans movable in response to said operating control for closing saidmotor switch; said trip meaNs further including sensing means movableduring operation of said trip means; said blocking means includingdeadlock means responsive to said secured means for blocking saidmovement of said sensing means whereby to prevent operation of said tripmeans; shutter means movable to release said sensing means from blockingengagement with said deadlock means; means biasing said shutter means toperform said releasing motion; said deadlock means being positioned toblock said releasing motion of said shutter means, and said sensingmeans motion being effective, if said deadlock means is not blocked, todrive said deadlock means out of shutter-blocking-position whereby torelease said shutter means, whereby said shutter means then releasessaid sensing means from said deadlock means to permit operation of saidtrip mechanism to drive said value dispensing means; means for sensingwhen said registering means attains a predetermined numerical level, anda blocking member responsive to said register level sensing means forlocking said deadlock means in position to block said shutter meanswhereby to prevent release of said sensing means and prevent operationof said trip mechanism and value dispensing means when said registerattains said predetermined level.
 19. A device as in claim 18 furthercomprising: a compartment enclosing said register; a door for access tosaid register compartment; said blocking means being responsive also toopening of said register compartment door to lock said deadlock means inposition to block said shutter means whereby to prevent release of saidsensing means and prevent operation of said trip mechanism valuedispensing means when said register compartment door is open.
 20. Adevice as in claim 18 wherein said blocking means is arranged formovement from a deadlock means unblocking position to either of twodeadlock means blocking positions, said device comprising first meansfor moving said blocking means to a first one of said blocking positionsin response to said register level sensing means when said registerreaches said predetermined numerical level, and second means for drivingsaid blocking member to a second one of said blocking positions inresponse to opening of said register compartment door.
 21. In a valuedispensing device of the type having value dispensing means, meansincluding a motor for driving said value dispensing means through anoperating cycle, a switch for starting and stopping said motor, a tripmechanism for closing said switch to start a value dispensing cycle andre-opening said switch at the conclusion of said cycle, and securedmeans for setting and registering the numerical value to be dispensed;the improvement comprising: means responsive to said secured means forblocking operation of said trip mechanism; said trip mechanism includingan operating control and trip means movable in response to saidoperating control for closing said motor switch; said trip means furtherincluding sensing means movable during operation of said trip means;said blocking means including deadlock means responsive to said securedmeans for blocking movement of said sensing means whereby to preventoperation of said trip means; shutter means movable to release saidsensing means from blocking engagement with said deadlock means; meansbiasing said shutter means to perform said releasing motion; saiddeadlock means being positioned to block said releasing motion of saidshutter means, and said sensing means motion being effective; if saiddeadlock means is not blocked, to drive said deadlock means out ofshutter-blocking-position whereby to release said shutter means, wherebysaid shutter means then releases said sensing means from said deadlockmeans to permit operation of said trip mechanism to drive said valuedispensing means; a blocking member arranged for movement from adeadlock means unblocking position to either of two positions forblocking saId deadlock means in said shutter-blocking position thereof,whereby to prevent operation of said value dispensing means; first meansfor moving said blocking means to a first one of said blockingpositions; and second means for moving said blocking member to a secondone of said blocking positions.
 22. In a value dispensing device of thetype having value dispensing means, means including a motor for drivingsaid value dispensing means through an operating cycle, a switch forstarting and stopping said motor, a trip mechanism for closing saidswitch to start a value dispensing cycle and reopening said switch atthe conclusion of said cycle, and secured means for setting andregistering the numerical value to be dispensed; the improvementcomprising: means responsive to said secured means for blockingoperation of said trip mechanism; said trip mechanism including anoperating control and trip means movable in response to said operatingcontrol for closing said motor switch; said trip means further includingsensing means movable during operation of said trip means; said blockingmeans including deadlock means responsive to said secured means forblocking said movement of said sensing means whereby to preventoperation of said trip means; shutter means movable to release saidsensing means from blocking engagement with said deadlock means; meansbiasing said shutter means to perform said releasing motion; saiddeadlock means being positioned to block said releasing motion of saidshutter means, and said sensing means motion being effective, if saiddeadlock means is not blocked, to drive said deadlock means out ofshutter-blocking-position whereby to release said shutter means, wherebysaid shutter means then releases said sensing means from said deadlockmeans to permit operation of said trip mechanism to drive said valuedispensing means; register driving means for altering the numericalcontents of said registering means; said setting means being operable toadjust said register driving means whereby to determine the numericalinput of said driving means to said registering means; and means forrectifying said setting means to set said numerical input at least atone numerical level, said rectifying means being effective to preventrelease of said shutter means except when said setting means is at saidlevel.
 23. A device as in claim 22 wherein said setting means includestoothed bar means, means mounting said bar means for translation, andmeans connecting said register driving means to alter said numericalsetting thereof in response to said bar means translation; saidrectifying means comprising pawl means arranged to nest between saidteeth thereof when said bar means is in at least one predeterminedposition; and means pivotally mounting said pawl whereby to rotate intoand out of nested engagement with said teeth; said shutter meansengaging with said pawl means in a manner to prevent said releasingmovement of said shutter means when said pawl means is out of saidnested engagement.
 24. A device as in claim 23 wherein said shuttermeans is arranged to prevent movement of said pawl means out of saidnested engagement when said shutter means moves to release said tripmechanism whereby to lock said bar means in said predetermined positionso that the numerical input of said register driving means to saidregistering means cannot be changed while said trip mechanism isoperating said value dispensing means.
 25. A device as in claim 24wherein: said shutter means is formed with a pawl receiving openingaligned with said pawl means; said pawl means, when not nested,projecting into said opening in position to engage said shutter means onmovement thereof; said shutter means is arranged so that said releasingmovement thereof moves said pawl-receiving opening out of engageablealignment with said pawl means and interposes the body of said shuttermeans to block rotation of said pawl means; and said pawL means isarranged so that, when the body of said shutter means is so interposed,said pawl means is locked in nested engagement with said teeth.
 26. In anumerical value dispensing device of the type having at least onenumerical register including driven means rotatable to change thenumerical content of said register, an assembly rotatable about a firstaxis and including means operable in response to such rotation todispense a selected numerical value and means for setting the numericalvalue to be dispensed, said setting means including variable inputdriving means operable in response to said rotation about said firstaxis to rotate said driven means of said register to change thenumerical content thereof in accordance with the value dispensed, barmeans extending substantially parallel to said first axis, meansmounting said bar means for translation substantially parallel to saidfirst axis, and connecting means coupled to said variable input drivingmeans to alter the variable input thereof to said register in responseto translation of said bar means; said variable input driving meanscomprising at least one gear cluster adapted to be rotatably indexedabout a second axis; said connecting means including a pinion which iscarried at the outer axial end of the said gear cluster and whichoperatively meshes with a rack carried by said bar means.
 27. Apparatusas defined by claim 26 wherein said value dispensing means includes aprinting member, wherein said device includes a plurality of numericalregister, and a plurality of respectively associated setting means. 28.Apparatus as defined by claim 27 wherein said plurality of setting meansincludes two pairs of gear clusters.
 29. Apparatus as defined by claim28 wherein a first pair of said cluster gears engage and drive therespective driven means of an associated pair of registers during afirst portion of the rotation of said assembly, and wherein said secondpair of cluster gears engage and drive the respective driven means ofanother associated pair of registers during a later portion of therotation of said assembly.
 30. Apparatus as defined by claim 26 whereinsaid bar means comprises at least one multi-part composite bar memberthat has three racks formed thereon, a first one of said racks beingadapted to set a print wheel that is mounted on said assembly, a secondone of said racks being adapted to engage said pinion, and the third oneof said racks being adapted to engage a gear means that is connected toa thumb-operated amount setting wheel mounted on said assembly.